Railway-switch



(Nd Model.)

- J. T. RICHARDSON.

RAILWAY SWITCH.

Patented June 11, 1889,

El i

. FICEQ NITED STATES JOHN T. RICHARDSON, OF HARRISBURG, ASSIGNOR OFONE-HALF TO ALEX- ANDER H. EGE, OF MECHANICSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILWAY-SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 404,864, dated June 11,1889.

Application filed August 22, 1888. Serial No. 283,484. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: its under side to fit the upper surface ofthe Be it known that I, JOHN T. RIOHARD's0N,a flange and to extendsufficiently far beyond citizen of the United States, residing atHarristhe edge thereof to admit of the attachment burg, in the county ofDauphin and State of of the lower plate E. This lower plate is 5Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and stirrup-shaped, as shown inFig. 3, whereby 7 useful Improvements in Railway-Switches, of there isformed between its central depressed which the following is aspecification. port-ion e and the plate D a seat for the bar Myinvention relates to railway-switches; O. This seat is by preferencerectangular in and it consists of novel connecting pieces orcross-section, of a size slightly larger than 1o brackets adapted to becarried by the movthe cross dimensions of the bar 0, so as to ableswitch-rails, and to form bearings in permit the latter to turn freelytherein to the which are swiveled or pivoted the connectnecessary extentupon the pins-or bolts Z) as ing-bars which unite these rails andproperly the switch-rails are moved, and is open at direct theirmovements,permitting them, by both ends, so that the bar may be passed15 reason of their swivel or pivotal connections therein from eitherside, as may be most conwith the said bracket-pieces, to move fromvenient. their respective centers of motion without Theconnecting-bracket shown in Figs. 5 any cramping or bending of parts.and 6 is formed of two plates D, separated a I have illustrated myinvention in connecshort distance from each other, and the two 20 tionwith what is known as a point or split plates E E, one lying above andthe other switch. below the horizontal portions of the plates D, In thedrawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of to which they are secured. Thisarrangeso much of a switch as is necessary to illusment provides theseat for the bar 0 between trate the invention. Fig. 2 is across-section the plates E and the horizontal portions (1 2 5 on theline 2 2 of Fig. 1,looking in the direcof the plates E.

tion of the arrow; and Fig. 3 is a section on If desired, the bar 0nearest the point ends the line 3 3, looking in the direction of the ofthe rails B may be extended, as shown in arrow 2. Fig. 4 is a plan viewof the con- Fig. 1, so as to lie beneath the fixed rails, andnecting-bracket detached. Figs. 5 and 6 are thereby assist in preventingthe point ends 30 detached views illustrating a different form fromspringing upward when the weight of a of the invention from that shownin the other passing ear or locomotive is upon the hee figures. ends ofsuch rails.

In the drawings,A A represent the fixed The above-described bracketsprovide a rails,B 13 the movable point-rails, and C 0 means for a swivelattachment of the con 3 5 the connecting-bars of the latter. These barsneeting-bars, which is simple in construction are supported at or neartheir ends in seats and easy to manufacture, while it possesses providedtherefor in the brackets F, carried great strength, since all the parts,Whichever by the movable switch-rails, to which they form of myinvention is used, are made from are secured by the pivot-pins b.ordinary merchant plate or bar-iron, thus obo 40 The preferred form ofbracket, which is viating the necessity of having specially-conthatshown in Figs. 1 to I, is made up of two structed tools or apparatus inorder to make metal plates D and E, the upper one of which theattachments.

D is bolted at a a to the web of the switch- I am aware that cast-metalconnectingrail, while it and the lower plate E are united pieces havingsockets for the connecting-bars 5 45 together by the rivets Z). havebeen used; but my invention possesses The upper vertical portion (Z ofthe upper superior strength, is less liable to breakage, plate D of thebracket is formed to fit the and at the same time is less expensive. toweb of the point-rail to which it is secured, manufacture.

lying between the head and the foot or lower I elaim- 50 flange thereof,as seen in Fig. 2, and the hori- 1. The combination, with the movablezontal portion (1 of this plate is formed on switch-rails, of theconnecting-bars and the havingthe horizontal projecting portions (1, andthe stirrnpsl1aped plates E, secured to the portions d of the plates1,), and forming 1 in connection therewith the seats for the bars,substantially as described.

In tcsti in on y whereof I have signed myname to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN T. RICHARDSON.

\Vitnesses:

J NO. 1;. LANDIs, (1. S. THUMMA.

